Improvement in mowing-machines



l G. E. Bum.

Mowng Machine.

P atented Marph 9, 1869.v

GEORGE BURT,1OF HARVARD, MASSACHUSETTS.

||vi Pnoi/EMENT .IVN MOWINGAVLACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 87,539, dated March 9, 1869.

{To 'all -whom 'may concern Harvard, in the county of `Worcester andl `State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful 4Improvement in Mowing-Machines; and Ido' herebyfdeclare that the following` is a full and exact description thereof, refer-i ence being had to the accompanying draw-f` ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, Vin which Figure lis a side view of the.machine,with

`the `finger-bar vdawn in working position. Fig.

'2 is a front-end view with the finger-bar down.v Fig. 3 is a side `viewwith the ingerbar fold` ed up for transportation. Fig.4 is a birdseye view.` Fig. 5 shows the crankwrist box, and aportion of the pitman. Fig. shows a` "longitudinalsection through the center of the crank-wrist box. Fig. 7 isa side view of the` finger-bar, hanger, and chain when raised to pass an obstacle. Fig. 8 shows oneof the in-l ternal half-cylinders of the crank-wrist box.

Like letters-.represent like parts in all the `figures.

It is wellrknown that mowing-machines are `often arrested, when `in operation, by coming `ger-bar in `mowing-machines Vin `such a man-i ner that the iingenbar ywill yield to iixed obstructions, and pass over them without injury fto any part ofthemachine, or attentionof the operator; also,in arranging and constructing' `the iingeribar `and its connections in such'a manner that the operator in `his seat can ele-` vatertheiflnger-bar, and fold it `to pass trees `or other high obstacles, to pass through narrow passagesin going from field to iield, or

`in traveling o n theroad, also, in Varranging the supports ofthe operators seat in such `ai :manner that the operators weight, when in'. @the seat,.shall tend tohold the finger-bar in position in the-.grass when in operation, but

. mayyield to any rin or fixed obstacle with.

which the iinger-bar maycome in vcontact,.andy will also' tend to lift the finger-bar in passing L high abrupt obstacles, without -stopping orre-` tarding the onward motion of the mower; also,

in constructing and arranging the mechanism "for-putting the drivin g-apparatus out of gear Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Buur, o

-pitman d-and cutter-bar E.

(whenthe nger-bar is elevated at :the 4desirable point for folding it) without any attention of the operator; also, in constructing and arvranging a guide attachment for steadying the` the boxes 7 7. lo is a spring that tendsto lift the outer end of thejnger-jbar. (Seen in Figs. 2 and 4.) e is a hand-lever, iirmly attached to the connectingfring x. 8 S are stops inthe hanger D. (Seen in Figi.) D is the supporting-hanger, and .is Suspended on the axle R, to which it is irmlyiixed. is the connecting-ring that connects the hanger D with the finger-bar E by means of the ears 9 9'..21.11..1;l12 b2, and their pivots a2 a2 and shaft a1. o is a guide and draft chain, connected to kthe guardfinger I by the pivot c?, -.and to the crank 4b on the shaft. as, which is held in position Aby the ,standard B. (Shown in Figs. f1 and 2.) .fv is a guide that steadies the connecting-joint ofthe It 4also actsas a pivot to connect the hanger Dwith the. n ger-bar E.

M is a rsliding Standard, which is firmly fixed to the cutter-bar E', and is constructed y with a seat for the vguide t, ata peintabove the plane of the cutter-bar, andfalso With la seat for the pivot N, ata point in the Asliding standard nearly in a right linewith the wrist and the center of the cutter-bar, when the finger-bar is in position to operate. (Seen in risa) y The pitman d is constructed of a hollow tube, Vand is connected to the bail l0 bythe solid section L, Fig. 5, which forms as'wivel vin the bail l0. vThe bail 10 turns on PYot-s 13 v13 in the box m.

The box on is constructed with an oil-chainber, w, and an independent 'internal box, z z, Figs. 5, .6, and 8,made in two half-cylinders, of sufficient s z tofflt the wrist u onthecrankarm, 'butleavin g seine play in theboxm.'

rlhe recesses t inthe hollowcylmders are wound with any suitable material, Vwhich forms a packing, which iS ihingdtocome in contact with the wick f,.which is in etuitact .with `the wrist n, 4and the ,oil inthe chamber fw. l

' ployed.

rlhe-box m is also provided with a set-screw, 12, which' rests on the internal box z'z, and holds it in position. (Seen in Figs. 5, 6, and S.)

s is a projecting arm attached to the axle R. c is an arm that connects the foot-lever 1' with the arni s. a is a projection on the foot-lever o, to rest the foot on to operate the lever. (Seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.) S is the operators seat. C C are seat-springs, which are pivoted to the arm Q by the pivot i', Fig. 4. Y is a supporting-arm, pivoted to the projecting arms jj (which are firmly fixed to the springs C C) by the pivot p', and to the arms e e firmly ixed to the axle R) by the pivot p. (Shown in Fig. 2.) h is a shipper, which is pivoted to the arm A3, and has a downward-projecting arm, which operates the clutch'3, Figs. 2 and 4. The clutch 3' is provided with a recess for the shipper h, and a slot for a pin, which is fixed to the shaft 4. g is an arm projecting from the seat-spring C, to operate the shipper h, and throw the clutch 3 out of cog when the cutter-bar is elevated to a proper point to fold. The shaft 4 is held in position by boxes 4 4. 2 is a coil-spring that holds the clutch 3' in cog with the gear l. (Seen in Fig. 2.)

The iinger I isl constructed to extend beyond the cutter-bar, and receive the bolt 15,

so that the cap 9 and the nger I form a clamp, which is rnily fixed with screw-bolts onto the linger-bar E, and clamps the nger-bar firmly in the required position, dispensing entirely with the use of a shoe, a-s formerly em- (Shown in Figs. 1 and 7 Operation: When the operator is in the seat S, and the finger-bar down in position to work, as seen in Figs. l, 2, and 4, the operators weight rests on the springs C C, which are pivoted to the arm Q. .The springs C C are supported by the arms j j, the connecting-arm Y, and the supporting-arms c e', which are rmly fixed to the axle R, their pivoted points p being a little in the rear of a vertical line passing through the center of the axle or shaft R. (Seen in Fig. 1.) It will be seen that in this position the operators weight tends to turn the axle R over back, and hold the finger-bar in position to work. The finger-bar E being suspended from the axle R, its own weight also tends to hold it in working position, Figs. 1 and 4. vThe draft chain o also acts in a degree to the same end. These forces all tend to hold the finger-bar sufficiently iirm in position to overcome all resistance of such a character as would not injure the fingers or guards, but would yield and allow the iinger-bar to pass over irm and fixed obstacles. It will also be seen that the linger-bar E, in passing an abrupt obstacle, swings back, and thus turns the axle or shaft R forward, and moves the pivot-points p on the arms c e to a point in -front of a verticalv line through the center of the axle R, so that they are acted upon in an opposite direction, and the operators weight in this position tends to lift the finger- .out injury to the propelling parts. g on the spring C, by the movement of the bar, Figs. 1 and 3. Thus high abrupt obstacles are easily passed without injury to any part of the machine or any attention from the operator.

The guard-chain o operates to lift and draw the nger-bar when the mower is in operation. It also holds the ingers parallel with the ground, when the nger-bar is pressed back by an obstacle, until the chain passes the center of the axle R. The axle R being turned forward by this motion, the arms s and c and foot-lever r being connected with the axle R and shaft a3, the crank b is turned, and takes up thev chain o, until it passes the center of the axle R, thus tending to keep the fingers level. (Seen in Figs. 1 and 7.)

If the obstacle is not too high or very abrupt, the fingers will slide over it, keeping a position parallel with the ground 5 but if the obstacle is high and abrupt, so that the chain o must pass the center of the axle R, the crank b, turned by this motion, passes its center, and gives out the chain, so as to allow the guards to turn back freely, and in this position the iinger-bar will pass a stump or a rock without injury. The chain o also acts positively to bring the finger-bar back instantly into position after passing any obstacle.

The nger-bar may also be elevated at will, by the operator in his seat, by pressing with his foot on the projection a of the foot-leverr, which is connected to the axle It by the connecting-arm c and the projecting arm s, Fig. 3. Thus the force exerted by the foot acts in conjunction with the operators weight, and the iinger-bar is quickly elevated.

By means of the hand-lever e and the pivots a2 a2 the finger-bar is folded lengthwise of the mower. (Seen in Fig. 3.) Thus a tree or other high obstacle is readily passed without turning out, thus making all straight swaths.

The operator in his seat may also, by the hand-lever e, unfold the finger-bar, and releasin g the foot-lever from pressure, the finger-bar will, of its own weight, fall instantly into position to operate.

Vhen the'inger-bar is elevated at the proper point to fold, the cutter-bar is thrown out of gear by the action of the projection g on the seat-spring C, so that it may be folded with- The start seat S, comes in contact with the shipper h, which acts on the clutch 3', and instantly disengages it from the bevel-gear Z, and the moving parts are instantly thrown out of gear at the proper time without any attention from the operator. It may also be thrown out of gear at the will of the operator, by pressing with his foot on that arm of the shipper next the bevel-gear l. (Seen in Figs. 2 and 4.)

The guide o, being constructed of a rod, and being elevated above the cutter-bar, is less liable to be injured or clogged by the grit and dirt than commonly-constructed guides now in use.

The common flat guides form a receptacle cost', and making a more desirable guide for the joint, more removed from grit, and requiring less lubricating. (Seen in Fig. 2.)

By attaching the'pitman at a point which is nearly in a right line withl the crank-pin and the center of the cutter-bar, the upward and downward forces ofthe crank on the pitman and cutter-bar joint are greatly diminished; consequently the force necessary to propel the cutter-bar is less, and there is less strain and friction on the guide.

The self-oiling box m, having a large chamber, w, to reserve the oil, the wrist is more sure to be lubricated, and as the oilf chamber entirely surrounds the wrist, and the two half-cylinders that form the internal box being packed at the end t, and being provided.

with wicks ff, the oilis held for alonger time in the box, and the oil will pass through the joints of the internal box, and the cotton or j other suitable substance will supply the wrist as long as there is oilinthe chamber W. l(Seen in Figs 5, 6, and S.)V

When the internal box z z becomes worn', it

may be tightened up by means of the setscrew 12, Fig. 5, and when worn out may readily be replaced at a small expense. Y

The iiexible joints of the box m allow the pitman cl to play freely in any positionof the cutter-bar E when in gear. rllhe pitman d, being made of a hollow tube, is'stronger and stiffer, for the same amount of material, than a solid rod; and as this weight is moved very rapidly, a small difference in the weight is of great importance.

By the above device, it will be seen that a mowing-machine will pass high abrupt obstacles without any attention from the operator, with no injury to the machine; consequently they may be constructed' with less weight of material, rendering them lighter.

The operator alsoin his seat, having complete management ofthe finger-bar, may elevate, fold, and unfold it at will, with ease, and a tree or any obstacle that is in the swath may be passed, thus keeping the swaths straight.

It will also be seen that when the fingerbar is folded the fingers and cutters point downward, thus rendering them entirely secure from injury to the guards by obstacles, or to the team by accidentally backing onto them, as is liable to occur when the cutter-bar is folded with -thefingers and cutters pointing forward; also, by means of the above improvement, the liability of the operator being thrown from the seat, by the machine being suddenly stopped when in motion, by coming in contact wth an obstacle, is entirely overcome. Thus many serious accidents areentirely avoided, which often occur to the operators of machines of the usual construction, and as the machine is almost automatic in its operation, it is very easily managed, and does not require experts to develop its utility.

What I claim as my invention, and desire 'to secu-re by Letters Patent, is y g l. The nger-bar E, when supported by mechanism so constructed and arranged that the linger-bar will yield to and pass over firm and abrupt obstacles without arresting the team or injuring the machine, substantially as described.

2. The seat S, when supported by mechanism so arranged that the operators weight in the seat shall tend to hold the fmgerbar in position while operating, substantially as described, 'and for the purpose set forth.

3. The finger-bar E, when connected with the foot-lever r and hand-lever 1c in such a manner that the bar may be folded or unfolded by the operator while in the seat, subtantially as described, for the purposes set orth.

4. The shipper h, when so arranged and connected with the finger-bar that the cutter-bar is thrown out of gear when the finger-bar is elevated, substantially as described. l

5. The combination of the finger-beam, the

foot-lever r, the crank-b, and the elevatingchain o,when said chain is so arranged as to pass over the turning centerv of the crank b, so that the chain shall at first raise the fingerbar, and then, by slackening, allow the points of the fingers to be lowered, substantially as described and set forth.

6. The combination of the finger-beam, the

foot-lever r, crank b, and chain o, for the pur` pose `of lifting the nger-bar over slight obstructions, while keeping it nearly parallel to the ground, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination of the seat S, spring C, arm j, the connection y, and the arm e with the axle B, pivoted and arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth. Y 8. The seat-spring C, the projecting arm g,

-and the shipper h, in combination with the clutch 3 and spring 2, arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

9. The hanger D, the ring rv, and the fingerbar E, in combination with the shaft R, connected and arranged substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of the projecting arm s, the connecting-arm o, and the lever r, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination of the pitman d, the guide c, the standard M, and the cutter-bar E', substantially as described.

. enonen E. Burn.

I Witnesses: y

E. A. Hrmmnrn, S. B. HILDRETH. 

